Eilfort reportedly befriended a Krav Maga instructor in 2002, but only entered his first competition — called an “octagon” — six months ago, after training with Sokoudjou at Team Quest Gym in Encinitas, California.

The stalwart rabbi told Fox News he had begun to train because he relished the “physical, mental, personal challenge” of martial arts.

He turned out to be a revelation, despite having to miss out on a last round of preparation before the match in order to observe the Sabbath.

“I never thought that a rabbi would be interested in fighting. But I was stoked,” his coach, who joked about dubbing him “The Rabbi” on the fight bill, said.